Mostly large cross jellies Mitrocoma in Friday Harbor

Description and Comments

Typical 20 minute observation in Friday Harbor, Washington, last two weeks of August: 50-200 Mitrocoma cellularia, 10-30 Phialidium gregarium, 10-30 Stomotoca atra, 10-30 Pleurobrachia bachei, maybe 1-2 small Bolinopsis infundibulum, 1 Cyanea capillata 4-12" diameter. The small medusae and ctenophores look very "thin", like they aren't getting much to eat; water is very clear, weather mostly calm and 80 degrees F.

Author

Leo

Type of organism

Jellyfish

Quantity

100

Latitude

48.54

Longitude

-123.01

Comments

jellywatch Tue, 08/30/2011 - 11:05

Thanks for the comprehensive report. I would usually associate those species with a spring bloom, but Mitrocoma also abundant in California now.... Would you say that is typical or late?

Leo Tue, 08/30/2011 - 11:52

Mitrocoma is common in early autumn up here. They are released from polyps in about April-May and aren't sexually mature until about August. They'll probably remain in the water in declining numbers through October - some years they are still present in December. We have a lot more Mitrocoma here since the Aequorea (which ate them) crashed about 15 years ago.